CAMPAIGN REFORM Democrats say bill has truck-size holes

The regulations on money in politics are being debated in the Statehouse.
STAFF/WIRE REPORT
COLUMBUS -- Minority Statehouse Democrats are taking aim at a Republican proposal to overhaul the way Ohio finances political campaigns, claiming that the proposed rewrite would open "Mack truck loopholes" for special interests.
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Gregory DiDonato, D-Dennison, said, "This bill leaves gaping holes in the law allowing all kinds of opportunities for unlimited campaign contributions. We're talking about Mack truck loopholes that need to dealt with."
Under the GOP measure, which is being considered in a special-session of the Legislature called by Republican Gov. Bob Taft, political campaign contributions from individuals to statewide candidates and state legislative candidates would be raised from the current $2,500 to $10,000 per reporting period.
Majority House Republicans planned final action on the measure by Wednesday. Majority Senate Republicans say they will continue hearings on their bill in a Senate committee and possibly wait on the arrival of the House measure.
The rules
Under the measure, sponsored by Republican Sen. Randy Gardner of Bowling Green and Rep. Kevin DeWine of Fairborn, county political party state candidate funds would be allowed to receive as much as $10,000 from individuals, from the current $5,000, and would be banned from receiving contributions from political action committees.
The GOP-backed bill would also up contributions to the state party state candidate funds, legislative campaign funds and political action committees.
Republicans say their proposed measure is a good one that continues to evolve.
"I think this bill is structured," said state Sen. Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican and the presumptive Senate president when the next two-year Legislature is seated next month.
"I think what this does, is it give us full disclosure," Harris said Tuesday. "It forces anyone that is making contributions to be disclosed." Harris said raising the proposed contribution limits are the way to go.
Criticism
But minority Democrats, see many problems with the measure.
The bill eliminates the ability of unions to use dues to fund candidates, a measure that union supporters say puts them at a disadvantage because corporate contributors are more likely to give the full $10,000. Supporters say the measure treats unions and corporations equally.
In addition, per-signature payments for people circulating election petitions would be banned. The ban on paying petition circulators for each signature gathered would prevent fraud by eliminating incentives to submit false signatures, said Rep. Kevin DeWine, a Dayton-area Republican shepherding the bill in the House.
In Defiance County, for example, elections officials got voter registration cards for Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy, Michael Jordan and George Foreman. Police investigated allegations that a man who submitted fraudulent voter registration forms was paid in cocaine for his efforts.
Lawmakers have been trying to tackle campaign finance reform for months in the wake of scandals involving the alleged improper fund-raising and political activities connected to two formerly prominent GOP strategists.
No criminal charges have yet been filed in the case but federal and state probes are reportedly continuing.
Taft called the Legislature into special session on the issue after the Senate adjourned its two-year session abruptly last week.